Sixteen Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers at the Gaza border.

Friday was the single deadliest day in the Israel-Palestine conflict since the 2014 Gaza war. The UN Security Council condemned the violence after an emergency session.

It was the single deadliest day in the Israel-Palestine conflict since the 2014 Gaza war. The UN Security Council condemned the violence after an emergency session.

UN deputy political affairs chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the council: "Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law," he said.

Thousands of Palestinians had marched to the border at the start of a six-week protest, dubbed the Great March of Return. The protest comes ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel and the exodus of many Arabs - which Palestinians refer to as the "Nakba" (Catastrophe).

In a written statement before the meeting, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, blamed the bloodshed on Hamas - the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory. He could not attend the meeting in person because of the start of Passover.

Israeli officials said soldiers opened fire after rioting broke out. The UN says hundreds of people were injured.

Thousands of people are attending the funerals of some of the 16 people killed.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an independent inquiry into Friday's violence.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli authorities bore "full responsibility" for the deaths.

UN deputy political affairs chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the council that "Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law".

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed "to those concerned to refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties", his spokesman said in a statement.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, blamed the bloodshed on Hamas.

Protesters are returning to a tent city put up near the border in preparation for the demonstration to resume, said AFP news agency. Palestinians have also called a general strike.

Later Gen Manelis said Friday's events were "not a protest demonstration" but "organised terrorist activity" by Hamas.

"If it continues, we shall have no choice but to respond inside the Gaza Strip against terrorist targets which we understand to be behind these events," he said according to AFP news agency.

On Saturday Palestinians observed a day of national mourning for those killed and thousands of people attended funerals. Palestinians also called a general strike.

A few hundred protesters returned to a tent city put up near the border in preparation for the demonstration to resume, said AFP.

Who was killed in the protests?

The first to die was Omar Samour, 27 - a Palestinian farmer killed in Israeli shelling as he worked his land near Khan Younis early on Friday, before the protests began.

Most of the other dead - reported to be mainly men under 40 - were shot dead at points along the length of the 65km (40-mile) fenced border, from Jabalia in the north to Rafah in the south,

Hamas said five of them were members of its military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, reported Israeli media.

Why was there tension at the border?

Why was there tension at the border?

Thousands of Palestinians marched to the border at the start of a six-week protest, dubbed the Great March of Return.

Thousands of Palestinians had marched to the border at the start of a six-week protest.

The aim of the protest is to assert what Palestinians regard as their right to return to towns and villages from which their families fled, or were driven out, when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

Its aim is to assert what the protesters regard as their right to return to towns and villages from which their families fled, or were driven out, when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

Hamas, the militant group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, does not recognise Israel, but last year said it was ready to accept an interim Palestinian state limited to Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas does not recognise Israel, but last year said it was ready to accept an interim Palestinian state limited to Gaza and the West Bank.

Palestinians have pitched five camps near the border for the protest, from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah near the Egyptian border.

Palestinians have pitched five camps near the border for the protest, from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah near the Egyptian border.

Israel's military, which enforces a no-go zone along the Gaza border, doubled its troop presence for the protest.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which enforces a no-go zone along the Gaza border, doubled its troop presence for the protest.

The country's foreign ministry called the gathering a "deliberate attempt to provoke a confrontation with Israel" and said that "responsibility for any clashes lies solely with Hamas and other participating Palestinian organisations".

What do the two sides say happened on Friday?

What do the two sides say happened on Friday?

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said there were about 17,000 Palestinians in five locations near the border fence. It said it had "enforced a closed military zone" in the area around Gaza.

The IDF said there were about 17,000 Palestinians in five locations near the border fence. It said it had "enforced a closed military zone" in the area around Gaza.

Although most protesters stayed in the encampments, some groups of youths ignored organisers' calls to stay away from the fence and headed closer to Israeli positions.

Although most protesters stayed in the encampments, some groups of youths ignored organisers' calls to stay away from the fence and headed closer to Israeli positions.

The IDF said troops were "firing towards the main instigators" to break up rioting, in which petrol bombs and stones were thrown at the fence.

The IDF said troops were "firing towards the main instigators" to break up rioting, in which petrol bombs and stones were thrown at the fence.

A spokesman said all those who were killed had been trying to breach or damage the border fence, the Jerusalem Post reports.

A spokesman said all those who were killed had been trying to breach or damage the border fence, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The Palestinian side accused Israel of using disproportionate force. Tanks and snipers were deployed, and witnesses said a drone was used to drop tear gas in at least one location.

The Palestinian side accused Israel of using disproportionate force. Tanks and snipers were deployed, and witnesses said a drone was used to drop tear gas in at least one location.

The UN envoy for Palestine Riyad Mansour told the council that more than 1,400 Palestinian civilians had been injured.

The UN envoy for Palestine Riyad Mansour told the council that more than 1,400 Palestinian civilians had been injured.